This class is for anyone who loves to draw characters, regardless of skill level. Create and develop characters for video games, animated films and illustrations through fun and exciting exercises that strengthen your conceptual ability and skills. Learn how to develop a character layout sheet, a model sheet and a turnaround. This class will emphasize brainstorming, along with conceptualization of a story and ideas. Estimated cost of materials: $50 

Drawing the human figure is important training for all artists. By working with a costumed model, you will develop an understanding of form by sharpening your observation skills. In-class discussions will explore how artists from the past and present have depicted the human figure. Estimated cost of materials: $40

Bring your characters, environments, props and story- boards to life. Explore light and shade, perspective, color theory and basic design techniques. Learn how to take 2D line drawings and process them into tones for a lifelike result. Also, explore arranging shapes, values, colors and edges in interesting and intriguing ways to create images that hold the viewer’s attention. Not only will your characters look more dimensional, but the environments and objects will also be more believable. Estimated cost of materials: $40

Learn the skills needed to develop your own five-page comic book. From the establishing shot to the splash page, this class covers character design, figure invention, page layout, story structure, basic rules of perspective and classic comic book storytelling. Familiarize yourself with the comic artist’s process, from thumbnails and roughs to a beautifully finished and inked page. Estimated cost of materials: $35

Learn the different methods used to develop believable creatures and monsters for the entertainment industry such as film, video games, TV, and animation. Working from photographic reference of animals and nature, learn how to combine the fundamentals of design, anatomy, form, storytelling, costume, and character development to create original sketches and renderings of beastly quadrupeds, bloodthirsty bipeds, and large-scale leviathans. With an introductory level of drawing and painting techniques, this is an ideal class for aspiring concept designers, illustrators, animators or students considering ArtCenter’s undergraduate Entertainment Design as a major. Estimated cost of materials: $45

Apply your drawing and painting skills to produce a variety of projects, including album covers, ads and magazine articles. Learn the basics of color theory using acrylic paint and other media. The class also includes a survey of contemporary problem solvers and the history of illustration. Some previous study of drawing recommended. Estimated cost of materials: $70